Skip to content
www.wildelements.photography
  • Home
  • About
  • Wedding & Elopement Pricing
  • Portfolio
  • Resources
INQUIRE
CONTACT
www.wildelements.photography

Elopement

Maryland Elopement Guide | Plan Your East Coast Elopement
Elopements · Planning Resources

Maryland Elopement Guide | Plan Your East Coast Elopement

Read More Maryland Elopement Guide | Plan Your East Coast ElopementContinue

How to Prepare for a Hiking Elopement
Elopements · Planning Resources

Preparing for a Hiking Elopement | Tips & More

Read More Preparing for a Hiking Elopement | Tips & MoreContinue

What is an Elopement? | How To Elope
Planning Resources

What is an Elopement? | How To Elope

Read More What is an Elopement? | How To ElopeContinue

How to Elope in Washington D.C. | Tips for Your Capital City Elopement
Planning Resources

How to Elope in Washington D.C. | Tips for Your Capital City Elopement

Read More How to Elope in Washington D.C. | Tips for Your Capital City ElopementContinue

How to Elope in Big Sur; A Guide to Planning a Big Sur Elopement
Planning Resources

How to Elope in Big Sur; A Guide to Planning a Big Sur Elopement

Read More How to Elope in Big Sur; A Guide to Planning a Big Sur ElopementContinue

How to Elope in Costa Rica; Everything You Need to Know
Elopements · Planning Resources

How to Elope in Costa Rica; Everything You Need to Know

Read More How to Elope in Costa Rica; Everything You Need to KnowContinue

The Best Places to Elope in Puerto Rico; Ideas for Your Elopement
Planning Resources

The Best Places to Elope in Puerto Rico; Ideas for Your Elopement

Read More The Best Places to Elope in Puerto Rico; Ideas for Your ElopementContinue

Big Sur Elopement; Wind & Sea Estate Wedding in California
Elopements

Big Sur Elopement; Wind & Sea Estate Wedding in California

Read More Big Sur Elopement; Wind & Sea Estate Wedding in CaliforniaContinue

How to Self-Solemnize
Planning Resources

How To Self-Solemnize; A Guide to Self-Uniting Ceremonies

Read More How To Self-Solemnize; A Guide to Self-Uniting CeremoniesContinue

The Best Places to Elope In Northern California
Planning Resources

The Best Places to Elope In Northern California

Read More The Best Places to Elope In Northern CaliforniaContinue

Ciana Salisbury | Maryland Documentary Wedding & Elopement Photographer
HOME
ABOUT
WEDDING AND ELOPEMENT PRICING
COUPLE PORTRAITS
Portfolio
RESOURCES
CONTACT

© 2025 WILD ELEMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY

TERMS & PRIVACY

Do you know what cocktail hours, rehearsal dinners Do you know what cocktail hours, rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, and post-elopement/wedding celebrations all have in common? They are all connected by the outward and palpable expressions of joy and cheerfulness, two things that have the power to consume those in the center of the celebration in the best possible way. 

There are few moments in life where all of the most important people to you - your friends, your relatives, your chosen family - are collectively gathered in the same place, at the same point in time. It’s almost its own phenomenon, and for those who want this kind of unified celebration, the memories that come from these gatherings are some of the most important.

Although close relationships and family dynamics haven’t always come easily to me, being able to experience these celebratory parties and get-togethers through my clients has both healing, and eye-opening. This is precisely why I now include welcome party and/or rehearsal dinner coverage in all of my destination wedding packages. 

I believe that the full scope of the energy and love that surrounds a wedding celebration, whether it lasts for two days or a week, deserves to given a tangible edge. These occasions in our lives are a rarity, they’re part of the story, and they are certainly more than just preludes to the big day. 

And yes, while it’s true that this route of celebration isn’t for everyone, I’d like to point out that this is the beauty of modern weddings. You get to decide what feels right. Who you want to include. What you want to prioritize. And most importantly - how you want to celebrate. That freedom is where the magic lives.

#westcoastweddingphotographer #pnwelopementphotographer #californiaelopementphotographer #californiaweddingphotographer #bigsurelopementphotographer #bigsurwedding #bigsurweddingphotographer #northerncaliforniaweddingphotographer #norcalweddingphotographer #norcalelopementphotographer
Just a little over a year ago, we were on one of m Just a little over a year ago, we were on one of my favorite Caribbean islands celebrating A + J’s wedding weekend in the rain forested mountains of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Today, we are celebrating the evolution of their growing family while I try to comprehend how much things can change in the course of a year’s time. 

Many photographers will tell you that one of the best perks of the job are experiencing full-circle moments like this, which I can confirm, is wholeheartedly true. It is the highest honor to be invited back into my clients’ lives time and time again to document, (and cherish), the parts of their story they value most. Connection is boundless, and it’s these instances that I’m reminded most of that very thing.

Whether I’m called back into your life to preserve an anniversary, a date night, a new homesteading adventure, a long-awaited new addition, an engagement or proposal, a vow renewal, a honeymoon, or the flow of everyday life happily spent with the one you love - rest assured, I’m always in your corner, and I’m eagerly awaiting to see what life has in store for each and every one of you. 

This job is personal, and it should never feel like anything less. Your experiences matter, your stories matter, your milestones matter, and the way you choose to celebrate them matter too. 

#lifestylephotographer #marylandlifestylephotographer #eastcoastweddingphotographer #marylandweddingphotographer #coupleportraits #couplephotographer #dmvweddingphotographer #adventuresession #baltimorelifestylephotographer #dmvlifestylephotographer
Chances are, you’ve been hanging around here lon Chances are, you’ve been hanging around here long enough to recognize how important elopements are AND all of the uniquely diverse ways an elopement experience can be designed.

Some people feel called to wander to far-off lands, nestled in areas characterized by extreme remoteness, or landscapes you can only find abroad. And while those kinds of adventures fill my cup tenfold, today’s post is for the people who find that same calling in places nearby, the places they call home ”home”. 

It’s not lost on me that my home state of Maryland, (and the entirety of the East Coast for that matter), is absolutely full of jaw-dropping outdoor spaces that are, quite frankly, under appreciated and sometimes even unacknowledged. Eloping is all about doing things your way, and if your way doesn’t involve a 12+ hour flight across the sea, but an hour’s drive to your favorite local national park or state forest, then so be it! 

I wanted to create a resource that honors the lands we have access to here on the East Coast, while providing in-depth perspectives, ideas, and insights for the couples that resonate with an elopement celebration closer to home. 

You can know find my ultimate Maryland Elopement Guide under the “Resources” tab on my website! This is a completely free guide available to anyone at any stage in the planning process to enjoy, learn from, and get inspired by. (And while you’re there, feel free to check out my other curated resources made for eloping couples and wedding couples!)

#elopementphotographer #marylandweddingphotographer #eastcoastelopementphotographer #eastcoastweddingphotographer #destinationweddingphotographers #marylandelopement #elopementplanning #adventurouswedding #adventurousweddingphotographer
Boarding a neighbor’s boat post-ceremony to sail Boarding a neighbor’s boat post-ceremony to sail into one of the best nights of your life? 

You can count us in, every single time. 

The way an out-of-the-box wedding or elopement activity can instantly elevate your celebration is truly remarkable. You’re building an immersive layer into your experience that encourages you to remain present with one another, while creating the kinds of memories you’ll revisit decades later. 

While the photos you see here are apart of just one incredible wedding weekend on the water, I’ve curated an entire list of activities and ideas you may consider incorporating into your own wedding or elopement design. 

(And don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of suggestions for a myriad of different landscapes and regions that extend beyond the water too.)

Follow the link in my bio to read more on why I’m such a fan of wedding and elopement day activities, why I think they can be such an integral part of the experience, and a comprehensive list of 25+ ideas to inspire you during your planning process. 

#documentaryweddingphotographer #documentaryweddingphotography #boatwedding #weddingideas #elopementideas #elopementplanning #elopementphotographer #destinationweddingvideographer #riverwedding #oceanwedding #marylandelopementphotographer #marylandweddingphotographer #eastcoastweddingphotographer
We’re just a few months away from getting these We’re just a few months away from getting these two married, so I thought now would be the perfect time to introduce the first batch of their engagement photos from only a few weeks ago. 

You see, I think too often people dismiss their engagement as just a prelude to the wedding day. But in reality, it’s so much more than that. It’s a period that acts as a symbol and a testament to who you’ve become as a couple, how you’ve grown together, and the future commitment you intend to build your lives on. 

And if you ask me, that’s something really worth celebrating. 

Engagement sessions are something I offer, despite primarily documenting weddings and elopements, because I feel so strongly about the importance of this season of life. I want you to enjoy this milestone, and all it represents. 

I think having photos that memorialize this time in your lives is incredibly special, and it’s something you shouldn’t miss out on. I promise you’ll cherish them forever. 

#documentaryweddingphotography #documentaryweddingphotographer #destinationweddingvideographer #engagementphotography #engagementphotographer #eastcoastweddingphotographer #adventuresession #marylandengagementphotographer
Tradition doesn’t automatically equal value. R Tradition doesn’t automatically equal value. 

Read that again.

Maybe it’s a bit of a “hot take”, maybe it’s not. But after half a decade in the wedding and elopement space, all I know is this ⬇️

Value is a deeply personal thing – and just like value, elopements are the ultimate expression of a celebration built entirely around what matters most to you, (not the masses, not society, and certainly not the judgmental opinions of others).

Do you know what I love about elopements? There is no one conforming, (or inflexible), definition of what qualifies as an elopement, which means there’s infinite room for individual interpretation. Which if you ask me, is incredibly cool on a universal scale. 

Some people chase after an epic mountain top ceremony at sunrise, (or in this case an 8km waterfall hike deep in the cloud forest), while others want a laid-back evening with five friends on the beach. 

And you know what? All of which are creatively inspiring ways to celebrate your relationship that break the mold. You’re actively deciding, on your own terms, how you want to enter this next season of life together - and that’s pretty damn exciting.

How you get married is important. If I can leave you with one final piece of advice, let it be this: your wedding should not be what’s expected of you, but rather what you truly want.

#costaricaelopementphotographer #costaricawedding #waterfallelopement #elopementphotographer #hikingelopement #adventureelopement #adventureelopementphotographer #destinationelopement #destinationelopementphotographer
Consider this a soft launch for what’s on the ho Consider this a soft launch for what’s on the horizon for Wild Elements; a new service aimed at adding yet another layer of personalization and nostalgia to elopement, wedding, and couple photography experiences all over the world. 

What you’re watching is a digital replica of a Super 8 reel. While its true that nothing can really replace the analog magic of film formats, this is an easily accessible and close second alternative for couples who adore the classic aesthetic, but don’t love the processing time that is often affiliated with this medium. 

When my dear friends came to me with their announcement idea, I knew this would be a stellar opportunity to put this experimental alternative into action. This project inspired me to follow through with this service, and find a creative way to borrow from both modern and vintage videography without tarnishing the allure of either. 

As a hybrid digital and film photographer, my chosen mediums often remind me how important it is to keep growing in my craft, finding unique ways to preserve life’s most meaningful moments, and sifting through trial, error, and inspiration to wholeheartedly show up for the people I get to work with across the globe. I’m excited to see what we’ll continue creating with these new videos and tools, I can’t wait to share more of these projects with you soon. 

(And yes - I totally stole this song from @lauren_j_klinedinst post when she first shared their long-awaited pregnancy announcement because I couldn’t imagine anything more fitting for two people stepping into this new chapter. One last congratulations, guys 🤍)

#documentaryweddingphotographer #documentaryweddingphotography #couplesphotographer #elopementphotographer #filmweddingphotographer #pregnancyannoucement #lifestylephotographer
A pre-wedding celebration made out of California d A pre-wedding celebration made out of California dreams; enjoy this mix of digital and film from this hidden oasis on the coast. 

Venue: @windandsea_estate 
Film Development: @nationalphoto 
Photography: @wildelementsphotography

#bigsurweddingphotographer #bigsurelopementphotographer #bigsurelopement #bigsurwedding #windandseaestate #californiaweddingphotographer #californiaelopementphotographer #norcalweddingphotographer #welcomeparty #filmweddingphotographer
Scroll to top
  • Home
  • About
  • Wedding & Elopement Pricing
  • Portfolio
  • Resources
Pinterest Facebook Instagram